Home   News   Article

Subscribe Now

Villagers' concerns about proposed housing development





Proposals by a Mr Isaac, of London, to demolish an existing house at Four Oaks, Harts Lane - a site containing around 140 trees - and build two four bedroom and two five bedroom houses and alter the access, were discussed at a Burghclere Parish Council meeting last Monday (Nov 5).
“This development is a thorn in the side of the village,” said parish councillor, Tony Garland.
“We are overdeveloping the village and putting something like this up is another example of the lack of understanding of planners over what people want, it’s a totally unsympathetic development.”
Mr Garland said the development would overlook his and his neighbour’s houses in Harts Lane. A proposed balcony would overlook a bungalow owned by villager of 25 years, Peter Baikie, who was at the meeting.
Mr Baikie’s neighbour, Pete Carson, who was also at the meeting, a villager of around five years, pointed out the proposed site was sloped, therefore the development would be raised above neighbouring houses.
Mr Garland added any gravel road surfaces surrounding the develpment could create, he said, a noise nuisance for neighbours, while plans indicated around 40 trees would be removed to make way for the development. Councillors said the site was fronted by conifers and contained other trees, thought to include apple and oak.
Another neighbour, Laura Butterworth, of Laurel Bank, confirmed her garden was already waterlogged: “Removing any trees will make it more boggy,” said Ms Butterworth, while Mr Baikie confirmed the water table in the area was already high.
Parish council chairman, Chris Saint, said the 1.25 acre site was very large for a single plot, while pointing out a condition of the development was that the wooded appearance should be maintained, in line with the village design statement.
The parish council’s concerns, to be sent to the planning authority, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, included that there should be a minimum of one, maximum of three houses on the site. One house with a balcony overlooking neighbouring houses was facing the wrong direction, the road surface should be permeable brickwork, while surface water drainage could worsen existing flooding problems in the village. Space allocated for bin storage was inadequate and proposals for two-storey double garages would block the light of neighbouring properties. A developer’s contribution towards social housing in the village was necessary, due to the lack of affordable housing.
A decision on the proposals by the borough council is due no later than December 20, or by November 22 at the earliest.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More